Visa Brings Stablecoin Payments to Visa Direct Through zerohash Partnership
Visa is taking another step into digital asset payments by integrating stablecoin functionality into its Visa Direct platform through a partnership with blockchain infrastructure company zerohash.
The collaboration will allow eligible Visa Direct customers to use stablecoins for merchant account prefunding and payout services, giving businesses a faster and more flexible way to move money internationally. Zerohash will provide the blockchain infrastructure, compliance framework, and regulatory support needed to power the new offering.
Visa Direct is one of the payment giant's largest money movement networks, reaching more than 18 billion payment endpoints across over 195 countries and territories. The network supports transfers to bank accounts, payment cards, and digital wallets, making it a key part of Visa's global payments business.
According to Visa, the addition of stablecoins is designed to improve how businesses handle cross-border transactions. Companies will be able to manage liquidity more efficiently while making payments at any time of the day, without being limited by traditional banking hours. Recipients can also choose to receive funds directly in stablecoins, reducing settlement delays.
Mark Nelsen, Visa's Global Head of Product, said stablecoins are opening new possibilities for faster and more adaptable money movement, particularly for international payments. He noted that working with zerohash allows Visa to deliver these capabilities to clients while remaining compatible with the financial infrastructure businesses already use.
Zerohash CEO Edward Woodford described the partnership as another milestone for mainstream stablecoin adoption. He said integrating stablecoin functionality into Visa Direct gives businesses a more efficient way to manage cross-border liquidity while offering recipients faster access to funds and greater payment flexibility.
The latest announcement adds to Visa's growing involvement in blockchain technology. The payments company has steadily expanded its digital asset initiatives, including developing its own stablecoin infrastructure and supporting industry projects focused on tokenized payments. Visa has also joined the Open Standard initiative, which is preparing to introduce the OUSD stablecoin, reflecting its belief that blockchain-based payments will play a larger role in both traditional commerce and emerging AI-driven financial applications.
For zerohash, the partnership represents another major achievement as the company continues to strengthen its position in the regulated digital asset sector. Established in 2017, the firm has grown into a leading provider of crypto and stablecoin infrastructure for financial institutions.
The company previously secured $104 million in a Series D-2 funding round led by Interactive Brokers, reaching a valuation of $1 billion. Zerohash was also reportedly considered as a potential acquisition target by Mastercard before negotiations ultimately ended without a deal.
On the regulatory front, zerohash recently became the first company to hold both authorization under Europe's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and Electronic Money Institution (EMI) status. It has also submitted an application to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency seeking approval for a national trust bank charter.
As demand for stablecoin-based payments continues to grow, the partnership positions both Visa and zerohash to expand blockchain-powered financial services while connecting digital assets with the existing global payments ecosystem.